Floor waxer and polisher



Nov. l, 1932. D. DURHAM FLooR wAxER AND PoLIsHER Filed Dec. 18, 1928Patented Nov. l, 1932 UNITED STATES DONALD DURHAM, OF DES MOINES, IOWArLoo'B. waxen AND roLIsHnR Appunti@ med December 1s, 192s. seriai No.326,835.

The object of my invention is to provide a floor waxer and polisher ofvery simple and inexpensive construction having a base with a sheet ofsoft material on its under s surface, which base is provided with a waxcontainer supported thereon and with a passage through which wax can beforced from the container to the under surface of the base, the deviceincluding means of novel structure for feeding the Wax from thecontainer.

More particularly, it is my object in this connection to provide a waxfeeding means so constructed and arranged as to be simple and effectiveand free from parts projecting above the wax container.

Another purpose of my invention is to provide in such a floor Waxer andpolisher having such a' wax container and wax -feeder a convenientstructure whereby the wax feeder can be easily actuated for feeding thewax through the base by a suitable manipulation of the handle by whichthe base is propelled across the floor.

With these and other objects in view, my

invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination ofthe various parts of my floor waxer and polisher, whereby the objectscontemplated are attained, as

hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, andillustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a Hoor waxer and polisher embodying myinvention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the wax feeding appara-tus.

Figure 3 is a vertical sec-tional view through the Waxer and polisher,the parts being in position for forcing the wax through the base.

Figure 4 is a front elevationof the handle, parts being shown in sectionto illustrate the arrangement thereof and parts being broken l5 away;and

Figure 5 is a vertical, sectional view through the lower end of a handleembodying a sl1ghtly-modified form of device.

My floor waXer and polisher is of the type which is provided with a base10, which may have substantially the form of a rectangular flat block,preferably having its sides and ends beveled as at 12, so that the baseis of its l:greatest width and length at its lower par At the ends ofthe base 10 on the upper s urface thereof are transverse ribs or thellke 14 and 16, which have in their outer faces the horizontal grooves18, for convenence 1n attaching the clamp mentioned be- 60 Extendingacross the lower face or bottom of the base 10 and upwardly around theends and sides thereof is a strip of suitable materlal 20, such as felt,which is preferably secured to the base by means of cement, glue or anysuitable adhesive material.

A strip of cheese cloth or other suitable material 22 is extended acrossthe under surface of the felt 20 upwardly around the ends 70 of the base10 beyond the upper edges of the felt 2O as shown in Figure 3.

For fastening the cheese cloth in place and thus holding it snuglyagainst the felt and also helping to hold the felt in position, Iprovide for example 'a U-shaped clamp 24, the closed end of which fitsin the groove 18 and grips the upper end of the cheese cloth therein asindicated at 24a. The arms of the yoke clamp 24 extend along the sides30 of the base 10 at its upper edge and are screwthreaded at their freeends as at 245.

Mounted on the free ends of the arms of the yoke clamp 24is a cross rod26 having at its ends the eyes 28 which receive the thread- 85 ed ends24?; of such arms. The rod 26 enters the groove 18 and is locked inplace by means of nuts 30. y

This clamp structure snugly holds the cheese cloth member 22 in placeand-permits 9o and projecting upwardly therefroln is av wax container 32having a cylindrical bore.

The chamber A formed by the wax con- 4' tainer may project downwardlyinto the body of the base 10. From this chamber a assage 34 extendsdownwardly through the body of the base 10 to the under surface thereofas shown in Figure 3.

A felt strip 2O preferably has a passage 35, which registers with thepassage 34 for permitting the free movement of wax from the chamber A tothe under surfaceof the base 10.

The interior of the wax container 32 is screw-threaded for the greaterportion of its length as at 32a.

Received within the container 32 is a disc-- like plunger 36 having athreaded periphery to coact with the threads 32a.

For adjusting the plunger 36 in the container 32 for thus forcing thewax in the container downwardly, I provide the following means: v

A container cap 38 has a downwardly extending peripheral flange 40 whichis externally corrugated as at 42 (see Figure 1) for convenient manualmanipulation.

.Extending downwardlyv from the center of the under part of the cap 38is an angular post 44, which is slidably but non-rotatably received inan angular opening 46 in the plunger 36. The plunger 36 may thus be ad-)usted by means of its threaded connection with the wax container 32 andby the rotation of the cap 38.

On top of the cap 38 is preferably provided a central lug 48 angular inoutline which may be used in rotating the cap 38 by means of a wrench orby means of the handle as explained hereafter.

In the use of the waxer feeding device, the

.plunger 36 is removed and was is placed in the container 32 andthereupon the plunger can be adjusted downwardly from time to time byrotating the cap 38 for forcing wax from the container 32 downwardlythrough the passage 34 in the body of the base 10 and the passage 35 tothe cheese cloth 22.

The felt and cheese cloth form a strip of polishing material. The factthat the cheese cloth extends over the passage 36 causes the wax to beproperly distributed.

An important feature of the wax feeder lies in the fact that it has noparts which project upwardly to any substantial height or which vary inheight depending upon the position of the plunger. This is a valuableadvantage of my waxer because it enables me to /build the waxer as lowas possible and without projecting parts. The waxer can therefore beshoved under furniture without being interfered with.

I preferably use the handle for a manipuend of the handle a bail-likemember 52 has its arms pivoted as at 54 to the base.

In the particular manner of mounting here shown, the bail is pivot'ed tolugs 56 on the wax container 32. The bail 52 has a tubular ferrule 58formed thereon to receive the handle. On the lower end of the handle andslidably received within the ferrule 58 is a tubular sleeve 60 having anannular flange 62 at its upper end and having' a closed lower end 64provided with an angular opening 66 to fit the angular lug 48.

The sleeve 60 is fixed to the handle and to permit limited slidingadjustment of the handle and the sleeve with relation to the ferrule 58,there is mounted on the outside of the ferrule 58 and sleeve 60 a coilspring 68 arranged between the/flange 62 of the sleeve 60 and the crossmember 52a of the bail 52. Thus ordinarily the handle 50 is held at theouter limit of its sliding movement with relation to the bail by meansof the spring 68.

The handle is inclined as shown for instance in Figure 1 when the waxeris in use, except that when it is desired to manipulate the wax feed,the handle is swung up to vertical position, whereupon the cross member52a of the bail will stand above the wax container 32 and the handle canbe shoved downwardly against the tension o f the spring 68 for causingthe lug 48 to be received in the angular opening 66 at thelower end 64of the sleeve 60. Thereupon the handle can be rotated for thus rotatingthe cap 38 and ad- `justin the plunger 36.

In' *igures 1, 3 and 4 is shown a modified form of handle mountin Thebail 52 is the same as already descri ed. There is provided a sleeve 70similar to the sleeve 58 already deseribed, except that the sleeve 70has in it a bayonet joint slot 72, the lower portion of which isvertical when the handle is in vertical position and the upper portionof which is substantially horizontal as shown in Figure 3.

The inner end of the slot 72 is slightly tapered.

In the form of handle mounting now being described, the lower end of thehandle is received in a sleeve 74 similar to the sleeve 60, except thatthere projects laterally from the sleeve 74 near its lower portion a pin76 which travels in the slot 72.

In the use of the form of the device shown in Figures l, 3 and 4 whenthe waxer is bcing employed in the ordinary way, the pin 76 is wedged inthe upper part of the slot 72. lVhen it is desired to manipulate theplunger 36, the handle is swung to vertical position and is rotated tobring the pin 76 to registry with the vertical portion of the slot 72and the handle is then moved lengthwise until the opening in the lowerend of the sleeve 74 receives the lug 48. The handle can then berotatedY for adjusting the plunger 36, and after such adjustmentthehandle is rotated until the pin 76 can be drawn into the slot 72 again.

Other constructions could be used for operating the plunger from thehandle.

It will be seen from the foregoing that 1 have provided a Wax feed whichprojects a minimum distance above the base 1() so as to interfere aslittle as possible with the use of the Waxer under furniture and lthelike. Thus the plunger can be forced down, or brought to the upper partof the container by the rotation of the post, and yet no part of thisfeeding mechanism ever projects above the container. l

I have also provided a simple and positive wax feeding means, which canbe operated manually or can be conveniently operated by means of thehandle without the necessity for stooping over.

One advantage of this device arises from the structurel wherein thehandle is pivoted to the base so that during the waxing operation, thepower is applied in such a way as not to upset the waxer, and yet thehandle can be conveniently moved to position to coact with the post i-4cfor actuating the feeding means. If the handle were pivoted to the upperpart of the container, there would be a tendency to upset the waxer whenpushing it over the floor.

Another advantageV of the present structure is due to the fact that thehandlecan be moved away from the container for allowing unimpeded accessto the cap 38 for removing and replacing it for putting in a. new supplyof wax.

Changes may be made in the details of the construction and arrangementof parts of my improved device Without departing from the real spiritand purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by myclaims any modied forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents,which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

l. ln a ilioor waxer. a base, a wax container thereon, said WaXer havinga passage leading from-the container through the base, a plunger in thecontainer having a peripheral threaded connection with the interior wallthereof, a post slidably but non-rotatably associated with the plunger,a handle, a member pivoted to said base, means for mounting said handleon said member for limited sliding and for rotary movement, coactingsocket and lug elements, assocated with said handle and saidfirst-named' member so that in one position of the pivotal movement ofthe handle the coacting socket and lug element may be brought intoengagement and the handle then rotated for operating said plunger, whilein another position of such plvotal movement the handle is entirely outof operative association with said post and in position to operate thewaxer.

2. In a Hoor Waxer, a base, a Wax container thereon, said Waxer having apassage leading from the container through the base, a plunger in thecontainer having a peripheral threaded connection with the interior wallthereof. a post slidably but non-rotatably'associated with the plunger,a handle, a memher pi voted to said base, means for mounting said handleon said member for limited slidinfrl and for rotary movement, coactingelements associated with said handle and said post, respectively, soarranged that in one position of its pivotal movement the handle may beslid to bring said elements into cooperative engagement and the handle-may then be rotated for rotating the post and thus .operating saidplunger, while in another position of such pivotal movement the handleis entirely out of operative association with said post and in positionto operate the waxor, said means including elements for locking thehandle and the means against longitudinal movement of the handle whenthe handle is in one of its adjusted positions with relation to saidmember.

3. A lioor waXer having a base, a waX container thereon, said waXerhaving a passage leading through the base from the container, a plungerin the container having a peripheral threaded connect-ion with theinterior wall thereof, a post slidably but non-rotatably associated withthe plunger, a handle, means for pivotally and slidably supporting thehandle on the waXer adapted to permit the handle to be moved to positionwith its longitudinal aXis in line with the longitudinal axis of saidpost, said post and handle having associated coacting parts adapted,when the handle is in the last described position, and is slidlengthwise to engage the post, so that when the handle is rotated thepost is rotated for actuating the plunger.

' 4. A floor waXer having a base, a wax container thereon, said waxerhaving a passage leading through the base from the container, a plungerin the container having a peripheral threaded connection with theinterior wall thereof, a post slidably but non-rotata bly associatedwith the plunger, a handle, means for pivotally supporting the handle onthe waxer adapted to permit the handle to be moved to position with itslongitudinal axis in line with the longitudinal axis of said post, saidhandle being slidably adjustable on said means, said post and handlehavi associated coacting parts which When the handle is in the lastdescribed position and slid lengthwise, will cooperate to rotate thepost for actuatingsaid plunger.

5.V In a floor waxer, a base, a wax container thereon, said waXer havinga passage leading from the container through the base, a plung or in thecontainer having a peripheral threaded connection therewlth, a memberslidnbly but non-rotatably assiated with the plunger, a, bail having itsends pivoted to said base, handle mounted on said bail for limitedsliding movement, said handle and member having coacting means wherebylwhen the handle is raised to position in line with said member and movedtoward said member the handle may be cooperatively engagef and rotatedfor operating said plunger.

Des Moines, Iowa, November 27, 1928.

' DONALD DURHAM.

